Storefront-first vs DM-first commerce
Shopify Inbox is a free messaging tool for Shopify merchants. It unifies your Shopify store chat, Messenger, and Instagram into one inbox. It's great — if you already run a Shopify store. Botique is the answer for sellers who don't, and don't want to.
Feature comparison
| Botique | Shopify Inbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Requires Shopify | No | Yes |
| AI replies | Yes — catalog-grounded | Canned auto-replies + basic AI |
| DM-first selling | Yes — core use case | Add-on to a Shopify store |
| Hosted storefront | Included | Shopify store (separate plan) |
| Yes | Not supported | |
| Total monthly cost | ~$43/mo equivalent | $29+/mo Shopify + apps |
Shopify Inbox is free, but requires a Shopify plan ($29-$299+/mo).
Pick Shopify Inbox if Shopify is already your storefront. You get a proper unified inbox, product sharing from your Shopify catalog, and tight integration with Shopify's order system — all free.
Pick Botique if you sell primarily from your Facebook Page, Instagram, or WhatsApp — and don't want to rebuild on Shopify to get AI replies. Botique gives you a hosted storefront, AI assistant, and Stripe checkout for a tenth of what a Shopify-plus-apps stack costs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Shopify store to use Botique?
No — that’s the point. Botique gives you a hosted storefront, AI inbox, and Stripe checkout without rebuilding on Shopify. Shopify Inbox requires a Shopify plan ($29-$299+/month) to use at all.
Should I switch from Shopify Inbox to Botique?
Switch only if Shopify is more than you need. Shopify Inbox is excellent if Shopify is already your store — you get tight catalog integration and a unified inbox for free. If you sell primarily through DMs and don’t want to maintain a Shopify store, Botique replaces the whole stack at a fraction of the cost.
Can Botique do everything Shopify Inbox does?
For DM-first selling — yes, plus AI replies grounded in your live catalog. Botique does not replace Shopify’s full ecommerce feature set (apps, themes, advanced reporting). It’s a different product for a different shape of business.
Does Botique support WhatsApp like Shopify Inbox?
Yes — Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp via Cloud API. Shopify Inbox unifies Shopify chat, Messenger, and Instagram, but does not support WhatsApp.
What does it actually cost to use each one?
Botique is $10/week (~$43/month). Shopify Inbox is free, but only on top of a Shopify plan that starts at $29/month, plus apps for AI replies and DM features that often add another $20-50/month.
No credit card required.
Want a wider view? See Shopify Inbox alternatives — a curated list of every tool worth evaluating.